Method of decorating



May 20, 1952 R. SQUIRES METHOD OF DECORATING 2 SHEETSSHEET 1 Filed Nov. 25, 1949 F IGURE FIGURE 3 INVENTOR. Richard Squires Al m, 5LMWM FIGURE 2 AGENTS.

May 20, 1952 R. SQUIRES METHOD OF DECORATING 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Filed Nov. 23, 1949 4 M m F FIGURE 5 INVENTOR. Richard Squires BY v AGENTS.

Patented May 20, 1952 METHQD OF DECORATING Richard Squires, Gladwyne, Pa., assignor, by

mesne assignments, to The United States Playing Card Company, Cincinnati, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio, and National Publishing Company, Philadelphia, Pa., a. corporation of Pennsylvania Application November 23, 1949, Serial No. 129,016

4 Claims. 1

This invention pertains to edge-gilding or edge decoration and, more particularly, pertains to a method of and materials for decorating the sheet edges of books, cards, or the like, in such manner that the sheet edges will each present or simulate a metallic surface such, for example,

as a surface of gold, silver, aluminum, or the like.

It has been the practice to decorate sheet edges such as those of books, playing cards, or the like, by placing a plurality of book sheets or a plurality of cards in a clamp with the edges of a plurality of such sheets or cards in substantially aligned relation. The edges of the sheets or cards were then sealed to prevent water from penetrating into the cards on later application, and the edges of the clamped sheets or cards were machine-sanded on the major edge surfaces and then hand-sanded at their corners to present a relatively flat surface on each side edge of the pack formed by the clamped sheets or cards and rounded corners joining each side and/or edge. After sanding, any dust or loose particles were removed from the sanded surfaces by the use of a damp cloth or sponge. A paste or filler was then applied to the edge surfaces in such manner as to fill in any cracks and to serve as an adhesive for a metal foil with which the edges were to be decorated. After the paste or filler had dried, it was customary to give the edge surfaces a few light strokes with relatively fine sandpaper to smooth down any irregularities. A size, which is a dilute water soluble adhesive, was then brushed onto the edge surfaces in a bubble-free, thin layer, after which short length unsupported leaves of decorative foil, which had been picked up by the use of the static charge in a small frame,

covered with a tightly stretched silk webbing, were applied to the edge surfaces covered with the wet size in such manner that they would overlap. After the size had dried for several hours, the edges were rubbed with a soft cloth- .to remove excess decorative foil, or any foil which had not adhered to the edge surfaces, and in the latter event patches were applied to defects by using the same size that had been used for applying the original metallic foil leaf and then applying additional metallic foil. When a bright decorative surface was desired, and before the size had completely dried, it was necessary to burnish the decorated surface to produce a lustrous, bright appearance.

to carry out the burnisning operation. If the size were too dry and burnishing were attempted the decorative material would flake off, and if This operation required the services of a highly skilled workman who could ascertain the proper time at which 2 burnishing were attempted when the size were too wet the decorative material would be rubbed off by the burnishing tool. After the size used in applying the patches had sufficiently dried, the sheets or cards were separated one from the other by subjecting them to a riffiing action, the metallic foil splitting along lines defined by each sheet or card edge in a manner to leave each sheet or card edge covered with the decorative foil so that when the sheets or cards were reassembled a continuous, or simulated continuous, metallic surface would be presented.

From the foregoing it should be apparent that the decoration of the edges of playing cards or book sheets with a metallic foil has been an expensive and time-consuming procedure, and it is one object of this invention to provide a method of and a material for decorating the edges of book sheets, playing cards, or the like, in a relatively simple and substantially inexpensive manner such as to eliminate the expensive and timeconsuming operations heretofore necessary.

It is another object of this invention to provide a method whereby the edges of book sheets, playing cards, or the like, may be decorated by the use of a carrier-backed decorative foil.

It is another object of this invention to provide a carrier-backed decorative foil adaptable to the decoration of the edges of book sheets, playing cards, or the like.

It is another object of this invention to provide a method of and a material for decorating the edges of book sheets, playing cards, or the like, in a relatively simple and inexpensive manner and which will permit the decoration of at least one entire side edge of a group of book sheets, playing cards, or the like, assembled en masse, all

in one operation.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a method of and a material for decorating the edges of book sheets, playing cards, or the like, in which a bright, lustrous finish may be obtained on said decorated edges without the necessity of a burnishing operation.

Various other objects and advantageous features of the invention may be had from the following description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein similar characters of reference designate corresponding parts, and wherein:

Fig. l is a fragmentary perspective view showing a carrier-backed strip of decorative foil, the individual parts being exaggerated in size for purposes of clarity;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a pack of playing cards; 1

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the individual cards in a group, enlarged and in separated relation, the individual cards being exaggerated in thickness for purposes of clarity, and illustrating the decoration of the side and under edges thereof;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a book; and

Fig. is a fragmentary perspective view showing the individual sheets or pages of'a book, enlarged and in separated relation, the individual sheets or pages being reduced in number and exaggerated in thickness for purposes of clarity, and illustrating the decoration ofthe side and end edges thereof.

Referring to the drawings, and more particularly to Fig. 1: i represents a carrier backing, such as cellophane or cellulose acetate. 2 represents the release material. Alkali halide salts such as potassium bromide (KBr), potassium iodide (K1), and others may be used therefor. Waxes also are good release materials. 3 represents the foil, such as gold, aluminum, brass, or some other metal. It may be desirable to have a stratum of adhesive on the foil 3. However, the result sought for may be accomplished by applying the adhesive to the edges of the cards or book sheets. Fig. 2 shows a deck of cards in which the edges have been gilded, separated, and, as reassembled, present a continuous decorated surface 4. Fig. 3 shows the same deck of cards, the thickness of the individual cards 5 greatly exaggerated, and each card edge having a coating of foil 6. Fig. 4 represents a book I which has had the edges of the pages thereof gilded, separated, and which when in a closed position presents a continuously decorated suredges and the end edges may be buffed or sanded so that each of the edges presents a substantially even flat surface, although this may not always be necessary. After such edges are cleaned of any dust or residue remaining thereon, a suitable adhesive is applied to the edge surfaces and a carrier-backed strip of decorative foil, as shown in Fig. 1, is applied to the adhesively coated surfaces, allowed to dry, under pressure if so desired, until the decorative foil has adhered to the edges of the playing cards, after which the carrier backing l is stripped from the foil, such stripping being made possible by the film of release material 2 interposed between the carrier backing I and the decorative film 3. The decorative film 3 is so thin that any excess of such material overlapping the edges of the packs may be brushed off. Then the individual cards of the packs are separated, one from the other, as shown in Fig. 3, and it will be observed that each edge of each card will be completely covered or coated with the decorative film in such manner that when the cards are reassembled in side-byside relation, a completely decorated surlace 4 will be simulated.

It may be desirable to employ an adhesive in combination with a carrier, :3. release material,

and theparticular foil. The procedure is very similar. except-that in such case, depending upon .or the adhesive surface of. the carrier strip, or

to apply heat to the carrier strip after it has been positioned on the cards. The first method would be used in the case of a water soluble adhesive, while the second method would be used in the case of a heat-setting adhesive. Water soluble adhesives used, for example, are sodium silicate, animal glues including gelatin, starch baseadhesives, or the like. Plastic or heat activated adhesives are generally of the polyamide type.

In the case of playing cards, which have a shellac surface, it may be undesirable to use a heat activated type of adhesive. In such an instance, water soluble adhesives are generally much more eifective, since they will not adversely affect the shellac. On the other hand, in the case of books, it is generally undesirable to use a water soluble adhesive, and a heat sealing or thermoplastic type of adhesive is preferred. Of course, thermoplastic adhesives are usable on playing cards if the length of time that the heat is applied to the cards is restricted so as to merely activate the adhesive and not detrimentally afiect the shellacked surface of the card. Most types of adhesive may be used separately from the carrier-strip and they may be applied to the sheet-edged surface before the carrier-strip is applied, or they may be used in conjunction with the carrier-strip and applied to the sheet-edged surface at the same time the carrier-strip is applied.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that there has been evolved a new and novel method of decorating sheet edges. This new method results in a faster, cheaper and much more etficient method of edge decorating sheet edges of books, cards or the like.

While this invention has been described inits preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the words that have been used are words of description rather than of limitation, and that changes within the purview of the appended claims may be made without departing from the true scope and spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. The method of decorating sheet edges which comprises assembling a plurality of sheets in side-by-side relation with the edges thereof in the same plane whereby to provide a surface of substantial width made up of sheet edges, adhesively attaching to such surface one side of a decorative film releasably secured on its other side to a carrier backing, and'then removing the releasably attached carrier backing from the decorative film, the decorative film being of a homogeneity and consistency such that, when the sheet edges to which the decorative film has'been adhesively applied are separated, a continuous strip of decorative film is adhered to andcovers each individual sheet edge.

2. The method of decorating sheet edges which comprises assembling a plurality of sheets in ide-by-side relation with the edges thereof in the same plane whereby to provide a surface of substantial width made up of sheet edges, ad.- hesively attaching to such surface one side of a decorative fi m releasably secured on its other side to a carrier backing, and then removing the releasably attached carrier backing from the decorative film, the decorative film being of a homogeneity and consistency and the attach-- ingadhesive being such that, when the sheet edges to which the decorative film has been adhesively applied are separated, a continuous strip of decorative film is adhered to and covers each individual sheet edge.

3. The method of decorating sheet edges which comprises assembling a plurality of sheets in side-by-side relation with the edges thereof in the same plane whereby to provide a surface of substantial width made up of sheet edges, adhesively applying to such surface one side of a decorative film releasably secured on its other side to a carrier backing, subjecting the applied carrier backed decorative film to pressure and then removing the releasably attached carrier backing, the decorative film being of a homogeneity and consistency that, when the sheet edges to which the decorative film has been adhesively applied are separated, a continuous strip of decorative film is adhered to and covers each individual sheet edge, and a continuously decorated surface of substantial width is formed when the sheet edges are realigned in side-by-side relation.

4. The method of decorating sheet edges which comprises assembling a plurality of sheets in sideby-side relation with the edges thereof in the same plane whereby to provide a surface of substantial width made up of sheet edges, adhesively applying to such surface one side of a decorative film releasably secured on its other side to a carrier backing, subjecting the applied carrier backed decorative film to heat and pressure and then removing the releasably attached carrier backing, the decorative film being of a homogeneity and consistency that, when the sheet edges to which the decorative film has been adhesively applied are separated, a continuous strip of decorative film is adhered to and covers each individual sheet edge, and a continuously decorated surface of substantial width is formed when the sheet edges are realigned in side-by-side relation.

RICHARD SQUIRES.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

